Ladder supporting means



c. L. FAIRFAX :LADDER SUPPORTING MEANS Filed April 30, 1945 Dec. 5, 1944.

Patented Dec. 5, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,364,521 LADDER SUPPORTING MEANS Charles L. Fairfax, Cleveland, Ohio Application April 30, 1943, Serial No. 485,229

2 Claims.

The purpose of this invention has been to devise a simple form of suspending or attachment means combined with a ladder, whereby such ladder may be quickly mounted upon and supported by the window of a dwelling or other housing structure, for enabling ready access to the window for cleaning or repairing, or other purposes, without the necessity of entering the housing structure,

In the carrying out of the invention, it is proposed to provide upon the sill of the window attachable projections, or lugs, intended to remain permanently thereon, with which projections or lugs the ladder supporting and attachment parts may be engaged for hanging the ladder, practically speaking, from the window base or sill. A further object of the invention has been to devise a novel form of the attachment or suspending members carried by the upper end of the erative engagement with the sill pins or projections.

A full understandin of the invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description, and to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ladder embodying the invention, as when mounted upon the sill portion of a window for suspension therefrom.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the sill and upper end of the ladder showing more particularly the suspending members and engaging pins or lugs carried by the Window sill.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of a window sill bringing out more clearly the construction of the attachable pins or lugs designed to-be carried thereby'for cooperation with the latter supporting means.-

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the invention, utilizing a readily attachable alternative form of ladder supporting member.

Figure 5 is a top plan view showing more particularly the modified form of supporting member illustrated in Figure 4.

Referring to the construction of the invention in detail, reference is made to Figures 1, 2. and 3 particularly. A ladder l of conventional construction is employed, the same comprising the usual side bars or members, and the cross rungs 2.

In the drawing, a wall is generally designated A, and B designates the second story window sill of the window at 3, for purposes of exemplifying the use of the invention. It is contemplated to mount upon the window sill B, the attachable pins or lugs 4, which comprise a screw portion 5, and shoulder 6, to limit the penetration of the portion 5 when the member is screwed into place into the upper surface of the windowsill B.

Under certain conditions, painting of the dwelling may be readily performed by using a ladder suspended by the means of special loop members of the invention.

For holding the lower portion of the ladder away from the wall to facilitate climbing the ladder when disposed at a proper angle to the vertical, brackets 9 may be secured by bolts [0 near the lower ends of the ladder sides. These brackets have wall engaging members H at their inner ends, and provide spacing means between the lower portion of th ladder and the wall necessitating an emplacement of the ladder in its supported position at a slight vertical angle downwardly and outwardly from the wall.

My novel loop suspending members do not necessitate the boring of holesthrough the ladder sides to place them in position, and which members may be easily and quickly applied to the upper ends of the sides of the ladder.

The supporting or loop members each comprise a vertical plate l2, formed at one side thereof, and projecting rearwardly therefrom with a supporting hook l3, engageable over the rug 2 at the top of the ladder.

The plate extends above and below the hook l3 and may have a prong l2a at its lower end, to be embedded in the rear face of the side of the ladder I, to which the member I2 is applied. At its upper end, the plate I2 is provided with an inwardly projecting arm l4, having an aperture l5 to receivethe projection or lug 4 on the window sill with which the supporting member is intended to be engaged for performing the supporting function.

The supporting member l2, of the construction just set forth, will maintain its position of attachment to the ladder shown in Figure 4, without other fastening means, but if desired, small screws l6 may be employed to positively prevent removal of the member I2 from the ladder side. The arm M extends from the plate [2 in a position of front and rearward alignment with the side of the ladder to which the member I2 is attached, whilst the hook [3 projects from the plate 12 on an extended portion of the plate at the inner side thereof.

The suspending and supporting member for the ladder, as just described, is one which can be readily attached to the ladder, without weakening its construction in any way, and the attachment may be very quickly effected. If the screws l6 are not employed, the members l2, two of which are used, can be detached quickly.

According to the construction of the parts of the invention, as above set forth, if the ladder is desired to be used without reference to the supporting and spacing parts attached thereto, it may be leaned against a structure in the direction of the side opposite that from which the members I2 project, and used in the customary way.

If desired, at the upper end of one of the ladder sides I., there may be clamped by a U-clamp or clamps I'I, an extension handle member 18. A person standing at the top of the ladder may brace himself by grasping the handle member l8 with one hand, while using the other hand to wash windows or do other kinds of work.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination, a ladder comprising the usual side bars and transverse rungs, and means for supporting said ladder on a window sill or the like, comprising lateral rigid pin engaging loop members attached to the upper ends of the side bars of the ladder and extending outwardly from the ladder at one side thereof, the loop members including plates on the inner faces of the side bars of the ladder, and hook members projecting from the plates in a direction opposite the loop members and engaged with the uppermost run of the ladder.

2. In combination, a ladder comprising the usual side bars and transverse rungs, and means for supporting said ladder on a window sill or the like, comprising lateral rigid pin engaging loop members attached to the upper ends of the side bars of the ladder and extending outwardly from the ladder-at one side thereof, the loopmembers including plates on the inner faces of the side bars of the ladder, and hook members projecting from the plates in a direction opposite the loop members and engaged with the uppermost rung of the ladder, the said plates being provided with embedding prongs at their lower ends embedded in the rear face portions of the side bars of the ladder.

CHARLES L. FAIRFAX. 

